“Hip-Hop’s been dead for years. Witness the resurrection.” – DL Incognito

When DL Incognito’s first record came out in 2002, he was proclaimed as Canada’s bestkept urban secret, a newcomer breathing life into a semi-comatose hip hop scene. The album, called A Sample and a Drum Machine, dug deep into the crates to bring the authenticity of old school hip-hop back to the forefront.

Earning his hip hop stripes the old-fashioned way, DL Incognito began his hip hop career in 1998, performing at showcases, rhyming on mixtapes, appearing on radio shows and steadily developing the reputation he has grown to deserve.

Four years later, and all the buzz about DL being someone to watch out for in the future has been replaced with acclaim for his present accomplishments. A veritable presence in Canadian hip-hop, DL Incognito has succeeded in building on the success of his first album.

DL Incognito released his sophomore album in 2004, called Life’s a Collection of Experiences, which received a 2005 Juno nomination for Best Rap Recording. This nomination served to cement his status as one of Canada’s premier hip hop artists, and was a reflection of a career that had taken him from music showcases, such as NXNE and the Toronto Urban Music Festival, to headlining his own shows, opening for major hip hop acts on tour and featuring on several seminal Canadian hip-hop tracks. In addition, DL’s music has made it overseas to the UK and Asia, proving the accessibility and appeal of his music.

As an emcee, DL Incognito (which means ‘delivering lyrics on the low’) has been consistently recognized for his lyrical ability and his flow. Music magazine Exclaim! praised his first album, stating that “he [DL] came out of the box slinging similes and metaphors with punch line swagger, dope self-production and a voice reminiscent of the celebrated late MC Big L, ea rning the respect of those who heard it.”

DL Incognito’s appreciation for hip-hop is demonstrated by his dedication to his craft –his music achieves authenticity in a music industry that has become commercialized almost beyond recognition. Known for his live shows where DL delivers “a trip down memory lane, you get beats, rhymes and life. No gimmicks just straight hip-hop.” Rounding off his set of talents, DL Incognito is equally respected as an artist and producer, while his beats receive as much attention as his lyrics and performances. DL has his feet firmly planted in all aspects of the hip-hop industry as founder of the
independent music label Nine Planets Hip Hop.

DL Incognito’s third album, Organic Music for a Digital World, is slated for a summer 2006 release on URBNET Records.